That was one of the best one shots I have ever read.
Your writing is amazing.

I love the way you describe things.
'in the tiny village nestled down in a ring of purple hills' I loved that sentence, I could just picture a quaint little village.

Your characterization of Helena is perfect. Exactly how I would have imagined she'd be. All the way through she was reminding herself that she was above everyone else.
I particularly liked the part where you wrote about her having to work for what was good about her, unlike Rowena who in who it occurred naturally. I thought this was interesting because most people brag about natural talent whereas Helena is proud that she has to claw to her attributes.

It was an excellent depiction of how they both ended up being ghosts. I thought it was perfect that it should happen because she was being cruel to him and taunting him.

The last line was just paragraph was just amazing. I could just imagine her saying 'I hope you like wearing chains' in such a spiteful and cruel way, with such a smug look on her face.

Brilliant entry for the Writer's Duel and the category. I hope it does well, it deserves to!

Thank you so much for this wonderful review. I am really honored that you liked it enough to add to your favorites. I just...gahh...I can't form a coherent response. I'm in happy land right now. So I'll just give up and shower you with virtual cookies.

Wow, I am a bit freaked out by the synchronisation of our brain waves - I wrote a one-shot for the mother and you wrote a one-shot for the daughter. Lol. :D

Anyway. I think your story is very haunting. I love the way you showed how Helena couldn't bear to wear the diadem. Also, how she relished in her spite till the very end. It's very difficult to describe such an ugly flawed human being and you've done it perfectly. And the ending sentence - perfect on both a literal and symbolic level. Awesomely amazing one-shot. 10/10